2006 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2006 Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15 |
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I have heard folks say that God works in mysterious ways.
Well, Isaiah 55:8,9 does say... For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
But mysteriously?
No, I don't think so.
Either answered prayer, or not answered prayer... or things happening
'without' prayer... is it mysterious, or is it...
1) Antichrist is 'fixin' things to keep you from
the real Jesus and the real Book and from real joy, etc.
2) We can quench the Spirit! I
Thessalonians 5:19 - Quench not the Spirit.
3) We are reaping what we sowed - not always 'bad'
- but still in the flesh... Galatians 6:8,9 -
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.
4) By not reading the Bible enough, God's working in our
lives could 'appear' to be mysterious - after all, Romans
8:24-26 For we are saved by
hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with
patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
...but then it is OUR fault for not knowing what is going on - or if we are seeing prayer answered or the devil manipulating with his devices - or his miracles, signs and wonders, etc.
Fellowship with Christ is what we can have now that they couldn't have
in the gospel days.
They were able to LOSE that fellowship - see I
John 1:1-10
We can not lose His fellowship, but He can lose ours!
His Ways is the Holy KJ Bible
and the Holy KJ Bible is His Ways!
Fellowship is a two way street - His words to us (KJV) and our to Him (prayer).
If you really want to try to understand His 'answer' - His 'ways', etc. you must be in that Book - reading, rightly dividing so you understand what it is you are reading!
Are you truly concerned about prayer, as some have expressed to me?
Ok, then can you tell me now what the things are that Paul prayed for
us? maybe three of them? how about one? Do you
at least know the references to those things?
Ephesians 1:16-20
Ephesians 3:14-19
Philippians 1:9-11
Colossians 1:9-11
Anyway, let's take another look at Paul and prayer.
Always remember Romans 8:24-26
Paul's Teaching on Prayer
Always! Without Ceasing!
Romans 1:9 - without ceasing
Ephesians 1:16 - cease not ...
Ephesians 6:18* - always
Colossians 1:3 - always
Colossians 1:9 - do not cease to
pray
Colossians 4:2* - continue in prayer
I Thessalonians 1:2 - always
II Thessalonians 2:11 - always
for you
Philemon 1:4 - always
Making Mention of Folks!
Romans 1:9 - making mention of
you
Ephesians 1:16 - making mention
of you
Philippians 1:4 - for you all
Colossians 1:3 - praying for you
Ephesians 6:18* - for all saints
I Thessalonians 1:2 - making mention
of you
I Timothy 2:1 - for all men
I Timothy 2:8 - everywhere
I Timothy 5:5 - widows, night and
day
II Timothy 1:3 - for Timothy -
night and day
Philemon 1:4 - making mention of
thee
Salvation of others!
Romans 10:1
Give Thanks for folks!
Ephesians 1:16
I Thessalonians 1:2
A door would open to speak Paul's gospel message!
Colossians 4:3
Your Christian walk!
That God would count you worthy of 'this calling', and fulfil all the
good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power!
II Thessalonians 1:11
Food
I Timothy 4:5
Counting on folks truly praying for us...
...that God would get ahold of them through their prayers!
Philemon 22